MAY 2004 NEWSLETTER
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MAY MEETING
Our monthly meeting will be on Thursday May 6^th at 8am, at the Fire Hall, at Main Street and Watersville Road (enter at the rear/lower level).
We have a busy agenda planned – with items including the business directory/phone book project, the bulk mail permit, electricity deregulation, plus a vote for the position of corresponding secretary.

BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE
Our next Business Card Exchange will be held on May 24^th from 4 – 7pm at Lorien Assisted Living on Midway Avenue in Mt. Airy (right behind the library).
Co-sponsors of the event are Lorien, Paula Wilhelm; The Gazette, Carol Blackburn, The Main Event, Carol Cahall and the Blossom and Basket Boutique, Ellie and Rene Bonde.
There will be a great opportunity for each of you to see the Lorien Assisted facility as well as interact with other business owners. Be sure and put this date on your calendar.

NEW MEMBERS
Our total membership count currently stands at 98 and growing!
We are pleased to welcome the following new members to the Chamber:
Catonsville Homes, (New Home Construction) Rob Scranton, 410-750-1200.
Mount Airy Ace Hardware  (Retail Hardware Store) Greg & Trish Phelps, 301-829-0808
Chocolate Treasure Chest (Custom Chocolates, Fudge & Baskets) Mary and Richard Schultz, 301-829-5588

CANDIDATES FORUM
We held a forum for the persons running for the three Town Council positions on April 13th, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm, at the Senior Center. It was a miserable rainy night but 25 brave souls came out to hear what the prospective town council people had to say.
Those speaking were David Pyatt, Peter Helt and Wendi Peters.
Keir Knight of Plain English Writing & Design was moderator and Tim Barkley, Tim Barkley Law Office, handled the buzzer so that answers were not too long.
Everyone who attended felt the evening was worthwhile and goodies by Audrey Stapf, Stapf-Crafters Woodworking, Donnis Klein, Weekenders USA Fashions, Carol Blackburn, The Gazette, and Paula Wilhelm, Lorien Assisted Living were greatly enjoyed.

DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION
Mount Airy has been designated as a Main Street Maryland Community. The Town of Mount Airy and the Downtown Revitalization Committee will be hosting a celebration at Rachel’s Garden on Monday 24^th May from 6-9pm.
The event is open to the public – light refreshments will be provided – with a cash bar.
This is the same night as our Lorien business card exchange but the times do overlap. We hope many Chamber members will stop by to show their support.

FUN RUN
The Fun Run for computers was held on Friday, April 16^th, at noon at the Mt. Airy Elementary School. Tim Barkley, ambassador from the Greater Mt. Airy Chamber of Commerce, started the Fun Run. The PTA was able to raise all the money for the computers that were needed in the computer lab. Thanks was given to all who so willingly helped the PTA reach their goal.

NEW CHAMBER BROCHURE
A new edition of the Chamber’s Membership Directory & Application brochure will be published in coming weeks. There are close to 20 new businesses to be added!
The brochure features contact details for all members plus a membership application.
Marketing & Advertising Committee chair Keir Knight of Plain English Writing & Design, asks that all members please distribute any existing brochures to potential members.

MAY FEST
Remember to mark off Saturday and Sunday, 15^th and 16^th May on your calendars for May Fest in downtown Mt Airy.
Many Chamber members, including the Downtown Business Association, are involved in organizing this wonderful community event.

ELECTRICITY DEREGULATION
The Chamber recently hosted an event at the Olive Leaf Café, with guest speaker Bonnie Grady of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce.
Bonnie talked about the upcoming deregulation of commercial electricity and how costs could rise by as much as 25 per cent. The Carroll County Chamber is establishing a co-op to negotiate a cheaper rate.
There will be much more information on this topic to follow from the Mt Airy and Carroll County Chambers.
If you pay a commercial electricity bill – eventually you will want to know about this!